HYMN XXIII. Indra – Rig Veda – Book 7

उदु बरह्माण्यैरत शरवस्येन्द्रं समर्ये महया वसिष्ठ |
आ यो विश्वानि शवसा ततानोपश्रोता म ईवतो वचांसि ||

अयामि घोष इन्द्र देवजामिरिरज्यन्त यच्छुरुधो विवाचि |
नहि सवमायुश्चिकिते जनेषु तानीदंहांस्यति पर्ष्यस्मान ||

युजे रथं गवेषणं हरिभ्यामुप बरह्माणि जुजुषाणमस्थुः |
वि बाधिष्ट सय रोदसी महित्वेन्द्रो वर्त्राण्यप्रती जघन्वान ||

आपश्चित पिप्यु सतर्यो न गावो नक्षन्न्र्तं जरितारस्त इन्द्र |
याहि वायुर्न नियुतो न अछा तवं हि धीभिर्दयसे वि वाजान ||

ते तवा मदा इन्द्र मादयन्तु शुष्मिणं तुविराधसं जरित्रे |
एको देवत्रा दयसे हि मर्तानस्मिञ्छूर सवने मादयस्व ||

एवेदिन्द्रं वर्षणं वज्रबाहुं वसिष्ठासो अभ्यर्चन्त्यर्कैः |
स न सतुतो वीरवत पातु गोमद यूयं पात … ||

udu brahmāṇyairata śravasyendraṃ samarye mahayā vasiṣṭha |
ā yo viśvāni śavasā tatānopaśrotā ma īvato vacāṃsi ||

ayāmi ghoṣa indra devajāmirirajyanta yacchurudho vivāci |
nahi svamāyuścikite janeṣu tānīdaṃhāṃsyati parṣyasmān ||

yuje rathaṃ ghaveṣaṇaṃ haribhyāmupa brahmāṇi jujuṣāṇamasthuḥ |
vi bādhiṣṭa sya rodasī mahitvendro vṛtrāṇyapratī jaghanvān ||

āpaścit pipyu staryo na ghāvo nakṣannṛtaṃ jaritārasta indra |
yāhi vāyurna niyuto na achā tvaṃ hi dhībhirdayase vi vājān ||

te tvā madā indra mādayantu śuṣmiṇaṃ tuvirādhasaṃ jaritre |
eko devatrā dayase hi martānasmiñchūra savane mādayasva ||

evedindraṃ vṛṣaṇaṃ vajrabāhuṃ vasiṣṭhāso abhyarcantyarkaiḥ |
sa na stuto vīravat pātu ghomad yūyaṃ pāta … ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. PRAYERS have been offered up through love of glory: Vasiṣṭha, honour Indra in the battle.
He who with might extends through all existence hears words which I, his faithful servant, utter.

2 A cry was raised which reached the Gods, O Indra, a cry to them to send us strength in combat.
None among men knows his own life’s duration: bear us in safety over these our troubles.

3 The Bays, the booty-seeking car I harness: my prayers have reached him who accepts them gladly.
Indra, when he had slain resistless foemen, forced with his might the two world-halves asunder.

4 Like barren cows, moreover, swelled the waters: the singen sought thy holy rite, O Indra.
Come unto us as with his team comes Vāyu: thou, through our solemn hymns bestowest booty.

5 So may these gladdening draughts rejoice thee, Indra, the Mighty, very bounteous to the singer.
Alone among the Gods thou pitiest mortals: O Hero, make thee glad at this libation.

6 Thus the Vasisthas glorify with praises Indra, the Powerful whose arm wields thunder.
Praised, may he guard our wealth in kine and heroes. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.